Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Modeling And Validation Of A Synchronous-Machine/Controlled-Rectifier System, Kyle A. Hord

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The hardware validation of a novel average-value model (AVM) for the simulation of a synchronous-generator/controlled rectifier system is presented herein. The generator is characterized using genetic algorithm techniques to fit standstill frequency response (SSFR) measurements to q and d-axis equivalent circuits representing the generator in the rotor reference frame. The generator parameters form the basis of a detailed model of the system, from which algebraic functions defining the parametric AVM are derived. The average-value model is compared to the physical system for a variety of loading and operating conditions including step load change, change in delay angle, and external closed-loop …

Model Analysis And Predictive Control Of Double Electrode Submerged Arc Welding Process For Fillet Joints With Root Opening, Yi Lu

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) for fillet joints is one of the major applications in the shipbuilding industry. Due to the requirement for the weld size, a sufficient amount of metal must be deposited. In conventional SAW process, the heat input is proportional to the amount of metal melted and is thus determined by the required weld size. To meet this requirement, an excessive amount of heat is applied causing large distortions on the welded structures whose follow-up straightening is highly costly. In order to reduce the needed heat input, Double-Electrode (DE) technology has been practiced creating the Double-Electrode SAW (DE-SAW) …

A Universal Background Subtraction System, Hasan Sajid

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Background Subtraction is one of the fundamental pre-processing steps in video processing. It helps to distinguish between foreground and background for any given image and thus has numerous applications including security, privacy, surveillance and traffic monitoring to name a few. Unfortunately, no single algorithm exists that can handle various challenges associated with background subtraction such as illumination changes, dynamic background, camera jitter etc. In this work, we propose a Multiple Background Model based Background Subtraction (MB²S) system, which is universal in nature and is robust against real life challenges associated with background subtraction. It creates multiple background models …

Machine-Human Cooperative Control Of Welding Process, Weijie Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

An innovative auxiliary control system is developed to cooperate with an unskilled welder in a manual GTAW in order to obtain a consistent welding performance. In the proposed system, a novel mobile sensing system is developed to non-intrusively monitor a manual GTAW by measuring three-dimensional (3D) weld pool surface. Specifically, a miniature structured-light laser amounted on torch projects a dot matrix pattern on weld pool surface during the process; Reflected by the weld pool surface, the laser pattern is intercepted by and imaged on the helmet glass, and recorded by a compact camera on it. Deformed reflection pattern contains the …

Development Of Northrop-Grumman Mark Viie Training Unit And Wireless Video System For Use In Immersive Environments, Randall Lee Lewis

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

A training unit has been developed that allows NVESD researchers to develop training simulations within virtual environments to enhance infantry skill and awareness. A ground station was developed to house a computer, power system, and video transmission system. This station will allow for a remote operator to wirelessly send a video/audio stream to the handset. The ground station also allows the use of external video and audio inputs to be sent using onboard converters. Different wireless frequencies were evaluated to determine the best for long-range transmission of content. A handset was developed from a carbon fiber prototype shell. The handset …

Multi-Domain, Multi-Objective-Optimization-Based Approach To The Design Of Controllers For Power Electronics, Jing Shang

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Power converter has played a very important role in modern electric power systems. The control of power converters is necessary to achieve high performance. In this study, a dc-dc buck converter is studied. The parameters of a notional proportional-integral controller are to be selected. Genetic algorithms (GAs), which have been widely used to solve multi-objective optimization problems, is used in order to locate appropriate controller design. The control metrics are specified as phase margin in frequency domain and voltage error in time-domain. GAs presented the optimal tradeoffs between these two objectives. Three candidate control designs are studied in simulation and …

A Method For Non-Invasive, Automated Behavior Classification In Mice, Using Piezoelectric Pressure Sensors, Steven R. Gooch

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

While all mammals sleep, the functions and implications of sleep are not well understood, and are a strong area of investigation in the research community. Mice are utilized in many sleep studies, with electroencephalography (EEG) signals widely used for data acquisition and analysis. However, since EEG electrodes must be surgically implanted in the mice, the method is high cost and time intensive. This work presents an extension of a previously researched high throughput, low cost, non-invasive method for mouse behavior detection and classification. A novel hierarchical classifier is presented that classifies behavior states including NREM and REM sleep, as well …

Investigation Of Protection Issues And Method For The Distribution System With Distributed Generations, Ke Xu

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Because DGs are introduced into distribution systems, the coordination of fuses and reclosers doesn’t work well. It means the original protection schemes are not available for the distribution systems with DGs. This thesis paper presents the study on the impacts of DGs on the fault current and voltage in the distribution system by the simulation of a model distribution system. After we study the impacts of DG on distribution systems, there is an introduction of current several current protection schemes and fault locations methods. At last, an adaptive protection scheme with a more efficient fault location method for the distribution …

Reference Compensation For Localized Surface-Plasmon Resonance Sensors, Neha Nehru

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Noble metal nanoparticles supporting localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) have been extensively investigated for label free detection of various biological and chemical interactions. When compared to other optical sensing techniques, LSPR sensors offer label-free detection of biomolecular interactions in localized sensing volume solutions. However, these sensors also suffer from a major disadvantage – LSPR sensors remain highly susceptible to interference because they respond to both solution refractive index change and non-specific binding as well as specific binding of the target analyte. These interactions can severely compromise the measurement of the target analyte in a complex unknown media and hence limit …

Virtualized Welding Based Learning Of Human Welder Behaviors For Intelligent Robotic Welding, Yukang Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Combining human welder (with intelligence and sensing versatility) and automated welding robots (with precision and consistency) can lead to next generation intelligent welding systems. In this dissertation intelligent welding robots are developed by process modeling / control method and learning the human welder behavior.

Weld penetration and 3D weld pool surface are first accurately controlled for an automated Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) machine. Closed-form model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is derived for real-time welding applications. Skilled welder response to 3D weld pool surface by adjusting the welding current is then modeled using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), and compared …

Measurement And Modeling Of Humidity Sensors, Jingbo Tong

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Humidity measurement has been increasingly important in many industries and process control applications. This thesis research focus mainly on humidity sensor calibration and characterization. The humidity sensor instrumentation is briefly described. The testing infrastructure was designed for sensor data acquisition, in order to compensate the humidity sensor’s temperature coefficient, temperature chambers using Peltier elements are used to achieve easy-controllable stable temperatures. The sensor characterization falls into a multivariate interpolation problem. Neuron networks is tried for non-linear data fitting, but in the circumstance of limited training data, an innovative algorithm was developed to utilize shape preserving polynomials in multiple planes in …

Single Ended Traveling Wave Based Fault Location Using Discrete Wavelet Transform, Jin Chang

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

In power transmission systems, locating faults is an essential technology. When a fault occurs on a transmission line, it will affect the whole power system. To find the fault location accurately and promptly is required to ensure the power supply. In this paper, the study of traveling wave theory, fault location method, Karrenbauer transform, and Wavelet transform is presented. This thesis focuses on single ended fault location method. The signal processing technique and evaluation study are presented. The MATLAB SimPowerSystem is used to test and simulate fault scenarios for evaluation studies.

Frequency Tracking And Phasor Estimation Using Least Squares And Total Least Squares Algorithms, Hengdao Guo

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

System stability plays an important role in electric power systems. With the development of electric power system, the scale of the electric grid is now becoming larger and larger, and many renewable energy resources are integrated in the grid. However, at the same time, the stability and safety issues of electric power system are becoming more complicated. Frequency and phasors are two critical parameters of the system stability. Obtaining these two parameters have been great challenges for decades. Researchers have provided various kinds of algorithms for frequency tracking and phasor estimation. Among them, Least Squares (LS) algorithm is one of …

Volume And Surface Integral Equations For Solving Forward And Inverse Scattering Problems, Xiande Cao

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

In this dissertation, a hybrid volume and surface integral equation is used to solve scattering problems. It is implemented with RWG basis on the surface and the edge basis in the volume. Numerical results shows the correctness of the hybrid VSIE in inhomogeneous medium. The MLFMM method is also implemented for the new VSIEs.

Further more, a synthetic apature radar imaging method is used in a 2D microwave imaging for complex objects. With the mono-static and bi-static interpolation scheme, a 2D FFT is applied for the imaging with the data simulated with VSIE method. Then we apply a background cancelling …

Error Control And Efficient Memory Management For Sparse Integral Equation Solvers Based On Local-Global Solution Modes, Jun-Shik Choi

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

This dissertation presents and analyzes two new algorithms for sparse direct solution methods based on the use of local-global solution (LOGOS) modes. One of the new algorithms is a rigorous error control strategy for LOGOS-based matrix factorizations that utilize overlapped, localizing modes (OL-LOGOS) on a shifted grid. The use of OL-LOGOS modes is critical to obtaining asymptotically efficient factorizations from LOGOS-based methods. Unfortunately, the approach also introduces a non-orthogonal basis function structure. This can cause errors to accumulate across levels of a multilevel implementation, which has previously posed a barrier to rigorous error control for the OL-LOGOS factorization method. This …

Proposed Middleware Solution For Resource-Constrained Distributed Embedded Networks, Jason T. Rexroat

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The explosion in processing power of embedded systems has enabled distributed embedded networks to perform more complicated tasks. Middleware are sets of encapsulations of common and network/operating system-specific functionality into generic, reusable frameworks to manage such distributed networks. This thesis will survey and categorize popular middleware implementations into three adapted layers: host-infrastructure, distribution, and common services. This thesis will then apply a quantitative approach to grading and proposing a single middleware solution from all layers for two target platforms: CubeSats and autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). CubeSats are 10x10x10cm nanosatellites that are popular university-level space missions, and impose power and …

Multifrequency Averaging In Power Electronic Systems, Fei Pan

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Power electronic systems have been widely used in the electrical power processing for applications with power levels ranging from less than one watt in battery-operated portable devices to more than megawatts in the converters, inverters and rectifiers of the utility power systems. These systems typically involve the passive elements such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors, the switching electronic components such as IGBTs, MOSFETS, and diodes, and other electronic circuits. Multifrequency averaging is one of the widely used modeling and simulation techniques today for the analysis and design of power electronic systems. This technique is capable of providing the average behavior …

Humidity Sensor Circuit Using Real Time Operating System (Freertos) Kernel, Bojie Chen

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

A humidity sensor can be used to measure the moisture content of the environment. The physical change of the sensor expresses as the change of electrical property like capacitance, resistance, voltage, current, frequency, etc. In order to process these analog signals digitally, microprocessor is involved in the measurement. This thesis presents design of a circuit to measure low moisture levels. The 16-bit RISC mixed signal microcontroller MSP430F249 from Texas Instruments will be used. The circuit has good performance at extremely low humidity levels.

Meanwhile, a small real time operating system kernel FreeRTOS, a market leading RTOS from Real Time Engineer …

A New Design Of Dc-Dc Converter For Capacitive Deionization Process, Zhiao Li

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The shortage of clean water has become a significant global problem, and capacitive deionization (CDI) is a technology that can be used to help relieve the problem. A Ćuk converter system that can recover energy from CDI cells is described. This converter transfers energy between two CDI cells when a cell is in its desorption period, allowing energy that would otherwise be lost to be recovered and improving overall system efficiency. In order to control the states of the MOSFET switches in the converter, a self boost charge pump is used. In this way, the microcontroller can control system duty …

A Multi-Physics Computational Approach To Simulating Thz Photoconductive Antennas With Comparison To Measured Data And Fabrication Of Samples, Darren Ray Boyd

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The frequency demands of radiating systems are moving into the terahertz band with potential applications that include sensing, imaging, and extremely broadband communication. One commonly used method for generating and detecting terahertz waves is to excite a voltage-biased photoconductive antenna with an extremely short laser pulse. The pulsed laser generates charge carriers in a photoconductive substrate which are swept onto the metallic antenna traces to produce an electric current that radiates or detects a terahertz band signal. Therefore, analysis of a photoconductive antenna requires simultaneous solutions of both semiconductor physics equations (including drift-diffusion and continuity relations) and Maxwell’s equations. A …

Coordinated Voltage And Reactive Power Control Of Power Distribution Systems With Distributed Generation, Esa A. Paaso

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Distribution system voltage and VAR control (VVC) is a technique that combines conservation voltage reduction and reactive power compensation to operate a distribution system at its optimal conditions. Coordinated VVC can provide major economic benefits for distribution utilities. Incorporating distributed generation (DG) to VVC can improve the system efficiency and reliability. The first part of this dissertation introduces a direct optimization formulation for VVC with DG. The control is formulated as a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem. The formulation is based on a three-phase power flow with accurate component models. The VVC problem is solved with a state of …

Dynamic Aspects Of Articulating With A Virtual Vocal Tract In Dysarthria, Jeffrey J. Berry, Cassandra North, Michael T. Johnson

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Yeast Pheromone Pathway Modeling Using Petri Nets, Stephen D. Scott, Abhishek Majumdar, Jitender S. Deogun, Steven D. Harris

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

Background: Our environment is composed of biological components of varying magnitude. The relationships between the different biological elements can be represented as a biological network. The process of mating in S. cerevisiae is initiated by secretion of pheromone by one of the cells. Our interest lies in one particular question: how does a cell dynamically adapt the pathway to continue mating under severe environmental changes or under mutation (which might result in the loss of functionality of some proteins known to participate in the pheromone pathway). Our work attempts to answer this question. To achieve this, we first propose a …

A Comparison Of A Campus Cluster And Open Science Grid Platforms For Protein- Guided Assembly Using Pegasus Workflow Management System, Natasha Pavlovikj, Kevin Begcy, Sairam Behera, Malachy Campbell, Harkamal Walia, Jitender S. Deogun

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

Scientific workflows are a useful tool for managing large and complex computational tasks. Due to its intensive resource requirements, the scientific workflows are often executed on distributed platforms, including campus clusters, grids and clouds. In this paper we build a scientific workflow for blast2cap3, the protein-guided assembly, using the Pegasus Workflow Management System (Pegasus WMS). The modularity of blast2cap3 allows us to decompose the existing serial approach on multiple tasks, some of which can be run in parallel. Afterwards, this workflow is deployed on two distributed execution platforms: Sandhills, the University of Nebraska Campus Cluster, and the Open Science …

Transforming Web Tables To A Relational Database, David W. Embley, George Nagy, Sharad C. Seth

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

HTML tables represent a significant fraction of web data. The often complex headers of such tables are determined accurately using their indexing property. Isolated headers are factored to extract category hierarchies. Web tables are then transformed into a canonical form and imported into a relational database. The proposed processing allows for the formulation of arbitrary SQL queries over the collection of induced relational tables.

A Ga-Svm Hybrid Classifier For Multiclass Fault Identification Of Drivetrain Gearboxes, Dingguo Lu, Wei Qiao

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper presents a genetic algorithm (GA)- support vector machine (SVM) hybrid classifier for multiclass fault identification of drivetrain gearboxes in variable-speed operational conditions. An adaptive feature extraction algorithm is employed to effectively extract the features of gearbox faults from the stator current signal of an AC machine connected to the gearbox. The multiclass GA-SVM classifier is used to identify the faults in the gearbox according to the fault features extracted. A GA is designed to find the optimal parameters of the SVM to obtain the best classification accuracy. The proposed hybrid classifier is validated on a gearbox connected with …

Optimal Energy Scheduling For A Smart Entity, Amin Fakhrazari, Hamid Vakilzadian, F. Fred Choobineh

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Real-time availability of electricity prices via a smart power grid has a potential bilateral benefit to electricity users and suppliers. The users can reduce their costs by consuming energy during low-price hours and balancing their energy usage during other hours. This in turn benefits energy utility companies by reducing their peak power demand. This article describes an optimal shrinking horizon model for electricity-consuming units based on user preferences. The proposed model optimizes the end user’s electricity cost while meeting preferred comfort levels. The user can set preferences in the model using a tristate flexibility parameter for each electric-power-consuming unit. The …

A Security Protocol For Advanced Metering Infrastructure In Smart Grid, Feng Ye, Yi Qian, Rose Qingyang Hu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we propose a security protocol for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in smart grid. AMI is one of the important components in smart grid and it suffers from various vulnerabilities due to its uniqueness compared with wired networks and traditional wireless mesh networks. Our proposed security protocol for AMI includes initial authentication, secure uplink data aggregation/recovery, and secure downlink data transmission. Compared with existing researches in such area, our proposed security protocol let the customers be treated fairly, the privacy of customers be protected, and the control messages from the service provider be delivered safely and timely.

Free Space Optical Data Center Architecture Design With Fully Connected Racks, Abdelbaset S. Hamza, Jitender S. Deogun, Dennis R. Alexander

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we propose a novel design of a data center (DC) using free space optical (FSO) technology. The proposed FSO-DC design is based on fixed, non-mechanical, FSO links facilitating the realization of fully connected FSO racks and rows/columns of racks. Each rack becomes a point of intersection of three fully connected sub-networks. We investigate requirements, advantages and challenges of the proposed design. We develop and analyze a switch-free, fully connected FSO rack, present its link budget analysis and validate it by simulation. Results establish the feasibility of a switch-free FSO rack based on the proposed FSO-DC design. A …

Enhanced Pool-Boiling Heat Transfer And Critical Heat Flux Using Femtosecond Laser Surface Processing, Corey M. Kruse, Troy P. Anderson, Chris Wilson, Craig A. Zuhlke, Dennis R. Alexander, George Gogos, Sidy Ndao

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we present the experimental investigation of pool boiling heat transfer on multiscale (micro/nano) functionalized metallic surfaces. The multiscale structures were fabricated via a femtosecond laser surface process (FLSP) technique which forms mound-like microstructures covered by layers of nanoparticles. Using a pool boiling experimental setup with deionized water as the working fluid, both the heat transfer coefficient and critical heat flux were investigated. The polished reference sample was found to have a critical heat flux of 91 W/cm² at 40 °C of superheat and a maximum heat transfer coefficient of 23,000 W/m²-K. The processed sample …